Grantham court: Mechanic injured in hammer attack at garage

A lorry driver who carried out an horrific attack on a garage owner with a hammer has been given a suspended jail sentence.

Stephen Alexander Lismore, 47, of Brittain Drive, Grantham, attacked his victim while he was at work in the garage at Autmn Park, Dysart Park, Grantham.

Lismore admitted common assault on October 31.

Prosecuting, Tracey Ross told the court that Lismore had gone to the garage because he believed his victim was having, or was about to have, an affair with his wife.

Miss Ross said Lismore had gone ‘to make his views known’ to the mechanic on the Saturday afternoon at his workshop. The mechanic was working under a vehicle ramp when Lismore entered the garage.

In a statement the victim stated he said hello to Lismore when he saw him and the next thing he knew Lismore was taking a swing at him with a clenched fist.

Then the victim saw Lismore with the hammer which his swung at him, hitting him on the left side of his head, despite raising an arm to protect himself.

The victim said Lismore was shouting at him, but he could not recall what was said. Then Lismore swung the hammer again and hit the mechanic on his left leg above the knee.

The victim got out of the workshop followed by Lismore. Miss Ross said that the victim saw a lot of blood come from the wound although the injury was relatively minor.

She added that the victim said in a statement that Lismore had told him ‘I am going to kill you and smash you up’ and ‘You are a dead man’.

The court was told Lismore got into his car. The victim heard some wheel spinning and then Lismore wound his passenger window down and ‘threatened to kill me and cut me up’.

The victim said in his statement he had a cut to the left side of his head and bruising above his knee.

Richard Veni, defending, said the incident was ‘out of character’ for Lismore who had no previous record of violence.

Mr Veni said: “He completely lost it at the wrong time.”

The court was told that Lismore had two daughters and was the main bread winner in his family. He was working as a part-time driver but hoped to get full-time work in the near future.

On being sentenced by the magistrates, Lismore was told: “You were seething at this particular point. But you have got off very lightly. Draw a line in the sand and move on.”

Magistrates handed Lismore a 12 week jail sentence suspended for 12 months. He was also handed a community order to include 15 days of activity. He was ordered to pay his victim compensation of £100, costs of £85 and a victim surcharge of £80.